Method for bending tubes using a congealable material



METHOD FOR SENDING TUBES usmc A CONGEALABLE MATERIAL Filed July 23, 1965J. M. KELRICK May 7, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .1.

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United States Patent 3 381 360 METHOD FOR BEND ING TUBES USING A.CUNGEALABLE MATERIAL Joseph M. Kelriclt, New York, N.Y. (4 HawthorneLane, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559) Filed July 23, 1965, Ser. No. 474,429 9Claims. (Cl. 29-423) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method for preparing atube for bending, wherein the tube is submerged in and filled withcongealable material, closed at both ends, and then removed from thebody of congealable material.

This invention has to do with the pretreatment or preparation of hollowtubing for bending.

The bending or other working of tubing or the like has long been aproblem since the tubing will collapse at the bend, thereby weakeningthe tube, blocking the internal passage, and materially affecting itsaesthetic appearance. Hence, various filler materials have been insertedin the tubing prior to bending in an attempt to avoid such result; forexample, sand, cement and sawdust. Such materials may be easily andquickly poured into tubing of a substantial diameter but not into tubingof a small diameter; e.g., 4 inch and smaller.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodfor preparing a section of hollow tubing for bending or the like and, inparticular, hollow tubing of a small diameter.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of amethod for preparing a section of hollow tubing for bending whichenables the prepared tube to be bent to the desired configurationwithout distortion or collapse.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of amethod for preparing a section of hollow tubing for bending which issimple in execution, positive in action, and commercially feasible.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an apparatus for carrying out the method for preparing a section ofhollow tubing for bending which produces a complete filling of thesection with a congealed material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURES 1 to 5 graphically illustrate the steps of the method forpreparing a section of hollow tubing for bending according to thepresent invention.

FIGURES 6 to 9 graphically illustrate the steps for bending the preparedtubing to the desired configuration.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational front view of the apparatus employed incarrying out the method according to the present invention.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of the assembly of FIG- URE l0.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on receptacle 12 isprovided with a transverse slot 18 which is spaced from and is adjacentthe closed end 14 of the receptacle 12. A resilient rest 17 in the formof a rubber cushion pad or the like is disposed within the receptacleinwardly of the closed end 14 and which partially projects above thelower edge 18 of the slot 18. A handle 19 is on the receptacle 12 at theupper end thereof for facilitating manual handling of the apparatus.

The treating apparatus also includes an elongated plug 20 which isconformably shaped to fit within the upper end portion of the receptacle12. The plug 20 is insertable into and withdrawable out of the open end16 of the receptacle 12. The plug has a socket 21 extending inward- 1yfrom its lower end which slidably receives the stem 23 of the plunger25. Circumposed about the stem 23 is a coil spring 27 which biases thehead 2.) of the plunger away from the plug 20 and into snug engagementwith the adjacent upper end of the tubing 30, as shown in FIGURE 12. Theplunger 25 is made captive in the socket 21 by a pin 31, which ismounted interiorly of and extends transversely across the receptacle 12through the slot 33 in the stem 23. Interengaging means on the plug 20and the wall of the receptacle 12 serves to releasably hold the plug inposition in the receptacle 12. Specifically, this means embodies aspring latch element 22 on the plug 20 which releasably engages in oneof the air holes or apertures 24 formed in the wall of the receptacle 12inwardly of and adjacent the open end 16.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, a section of hollowtubing to be bent, and indicated by the numeral 30, FIGURE 1, isselected. This tubing 30 is completely immersed in an oil bath 32,FIGURE 2, to a temperature within the range of 200 to 250 Fahrenheit.Specifically, the tube 30 is placed in a basket 34 which is supported inan insulated open top vessel 36 containing a bath of light mineral oil,the cage being provided with a handle 38 for inserting and supportingthe tube 30 in the bath 32 and for withdrawing the treated tubing fromthe bath 32. The vessel 36 has a conventional electrical heating element33 embedded in suitable insulation 35, such as Fiberglas. The immersionof the tubing 30 in the bath 32 pro-heats the tubing .30 to thetemperature at which it will readily receive a congealable orsolidifiable material in a flowable state without causing congealing ofsuch flowable material upon contact with the tubing 30, while the oillubricates the tubing 30 with a film which will exist between thecongealable material in a flowable state and the inner surface of thetubing and thus prevent subsequent tinning.

A body of congealable or solidifiable material in a flowable state isprovided. This body is contained in an open top insulated container 40,FIGURE 3, having a conventional heating element 41 embedded in anappropriate insulation, for example, Fiberglas. The congealable materialis an alloy 42 which has a low temperature boiling point. The alloyemployed is known by the trademark Cerrobend, consisting of 50% bismuth,26.7% lead, 13.3% tin, and 10% cadmium, and has a melting point of 158Fahrenheit. The body of congealable material or alloy 42 in a flowablestate which is contained in the container is maintained at a temperatureabove its melting point of 158 Fahrenheit, or at a temperature ofapproximately 250 Fahrenheit.

The treating apparatus 10 is first placed in the heated oil bath 32 andpermitted to reach the temperature of the bath, FIGURE 2. Then, it isremoved and submerged in an upstanding position in the body or alloy 42,FIG URE 3, with the closed end 14 of the receptable 12 and the slot 18below the level of the body or alloy 42. The alloy 42 will enter theslot 13 and fill the receptacle 12 to the level of the alloy in thecontainer 40.

With the treating apparatus in position within the body or alloy 42 andits receptacle 12 fully charged with the alloy 42, the basket 34carrying the oil-treated tubing 30 is manually removed from the bath 32and the basket 34 held for a time sufficient to permit draining ofexcess oil from the tubing 30, whereupon the drained tubing 30 is liftedout of the basket 34 by means of a suitable lifting tool or tweezers,inserted through the open top it: of the receptacle 12 of the treatingapparatus it), FIGURE 3, and the lifting tool or tweezers released, thuspermitting the tubing 36 to descend by gravity within the receptacle 12and engage the rest 17. During such descent, the alloy 42 will enter theopen lower end of the tubing 30 and completely fill the section of thetubing 39 with the alloy 42 from the bottom of the top. At this point,the plug 2@ is inserted through the open top 16 of the receptacle 12until the head 29 of the plunger forcibly engages and closes the upperend of the filled section of tubing 39 while the lower end of the tubingis urged against and closed by the rest 1'7 to thereby retain theflowable material or alloy in the tubing. When the plug 20 has beenfully inserted into the receptacle 12, the latch element 22 is caused tointerengage one of the apertures 24 to thereby releasably hold the plug26 in position Within the receptacle 12, as seen in FIGURE 12.

After the tubing 20 is fully filled with the alloy 42 and the plug 20 isin latched position, the receptacle 12 is next quickly withdrawn fromthe alloy or body 42 and promptly placed in an upright position in acold bath of mineral oil. As the receptacle is withdrawn, the excessalloy surrounding the tubing drains out through the slot 18 into thecontainer 4t). The mineral oil is contained in an open top tank 50,FIGURE 4, and the oil is chilled preferably by means of cold watercirculating through the water jacket 52 provided on the tank. Thistreating apparatus assembly is permitted to remain in the tank for ashort interval of time, resulting in the chilling of the alloy 42contained in the tubing 30 to a temperature below its melting point suchas to cause the alloy to congeal to solid form.

After such chilling is completed, the treating apparatus assembly iswithdrawn from the tank 50, the latch element 22 released, the plug 20withdrawn, followed by the withdrawal of the tubing 3t filled withcongealed alloy 42 in solid form. The tubing 3t) filled with thecongealed alloy 42 in solid form is graphically illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The filled tubing 3% is then placed in any suitable bending device, suchas that designated by the numeral in FIGURE 6, and bent to the desiredconfiguration, in this case, a split ring 62, as illustrated in FIGURE7. The alloy 42 is then removed in any conventional manner, such as byplacing the split ring in a heated oil bath 6d, FIGURE 9, wherein it ispermitted to remain for a sufiicient interval of time to thereby convertthe congealed alloy to a flowable state and be discharged through thesplit into the bath and deposited as a separate layer 64 on the bottomof the bath, as shown in FIGURE 9. If desired, conventional agitation ortumbling means may be applied to the ring to insure complete removal ofthe molten alloy.

The thus obtained hollow split ring 62 is then treated so as to producea completely formed and sealed ring.

The tubing 30 filled with congealed alloy 42 in solid form lends itselfto any bending operation, and produces a symmetrical bent articlewithout distortion or collapse in any part thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of preparing a section of hollow tubing for bending whichcomprises providing a body of congealable material in a flowable state,providing a treating apparatus embodying an elongated receptacle closedat one end and open at the opposite end with an opening formed in theside wall adjacent the closed end and having a resilient rest adjacentits closed end, submerging said receptacle in an upstanding position insaid body with the closed end and the opening below the level of thebody and the open end projecting above the level of the body, continuingthe submersion of said receptacle in said body until the flowablematerial has flowed through the opening of said receptacle and filledthe receptacle to substantially the level of the body, inserting asection of hollow tubing through the open top of the receptacle andpermitting it to descend Within the receptacle to thereby completelyfill the section of tubing with the flowable material from the bottom tothe top, inserting a plug through the open end of said receptacle untilit engages and closes the upper end of the filled section of tubing tothereby retain the flowable material in said tubing, withdrawing theplugged receptacle from said body, cooling the plugged receptacle tothereby cause the flowable material to congeal to solid form, andrecovering the section of tubing filled with the congealed material insolid form.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the congealable material isan alloy having a low temperature melting point, and heated above saidmelting point.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the congealable material isan alloy of 50% bismuth, 26.7% lead, 13.3% tin, and 10% cadmium, havinga low temperature melting point of 158 Fahrenheit, and heated above saidmelting point.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the section of hollow tubingprior to the insertion in said receptacle is coated with a film of oil.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the section of hollow tubingprior to the insertion in said receptacle is heated.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is coated witha film of oil prior to being submerged.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is heatedprior to being submerged.

8. The method of filling tubing with congealable material whichcomprises:

(a) providing an elongated receptacle open at one end and closed at theother end with an opening formed in the side wall adjacent the closedend,

(b) submerging the closed end of said receptacle in a body ofcongealable material in a flowable state to permit said material toenter said receptacle through said opening and fill the submergedportion of said receptacle,

(c) inserting tubing to be filled through the open end of saidreceptacle and permitting said tubing to descend until one end abuts theclosed end of the receptacle, thereby filling the tubing with theflowable material,

(d) and inserting plug means through the open end of said receptacle andforcibly engaging and closing the proximate end of the tubing whileforcing the distal end of the tubing against the closed end of saidreceptacle to close the distal end of the tubing.

9. The method of filling tubing with congealable material whichcomprises:

(a) providing an elongated receptacle open at one end and closed at theother end with an opening formed in the side wall adjacent the closedend,

(b) submerging the closed end of said receptacle in a body ofcongealable material in a flowable state to permit said material toenter said receptacle through said opening and fill the submergedportion of said receptacle,

(c) inserting tubing to be filled through the open end of saidreceptacle until one end abuts the closed end of the receptacle, therebyfilling the tubing with the flowable material,

((1) and inserting plug means through the open end of said receptacleand forcibly engaging and closing the proximate end of the tubing whileforcing the distal end of the tubing against the closed end of saidreceptacle to close the distal end of the tubing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 463,256 11/1891 Side 221-279 X1,284,597 11/1918 Clinchy 221-279 Luellen 221-279 X Walsh 221-279 XSchilling 29-423 Sheridan 29-423 X JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

PAUL M. COHEN, Assistant Examiner.

